This is the story of the o'opu. The scientific name for the fish is Awaous Stamineus. The more common name is the o'opu nakea or o'opu. This fish comes from the Goby family.

Nearly everyone is familiar with the legendary journey of the hardy salmon as they battle their way up rivers and streams to return to the inland spawning grounds of the birth place.

Even more dramatic and arduous is the similar journey taken by our own native o'opu. Evolved from a salt water species into a fresh water species, o'opu are born in Hawaii mountain streams and are swept down to the ocean when the streams swell during heavy rains. Here, in the salty environment of their ancestors they mature. When their spawning instincts are triggered, the o'opu begin their journey from the sea to the lofty heights of our mountain streams.

Ascending to elevations as high as 1,200 feet above sea level, the o'opu encounter many natural and human-induced obstacles along the way. Hungry predators await their arrival. Droughts and water diversions can lower water levels, or deplete it altogether, thus eliminating the possibility for some o'opu to reach their spawning grounds and to reproduce.

Even with all these challenges, o'opu survive and thrive in Hawaii mountain streams. The next time you see a stream winding its way down to the sea, think of it as a stream of life for many of Hawaii's creatures like our native o'opu.

Text contributed by the Hawaii Nature Center.

	Story of the o'opu : Find out why the o'opu was chosen to represent the Clean Water Program.
	Coloring book: Pictures you can print and color.
	Test your Water Quality knowledge.
	Identify the sources of pollution.

Story and pictures are courtesy of the State of Hawaii and the U. S. Environmental Services. Illustration by Dave Thorne.